Lane Burroughs may be preparing his team for the upcoming season, but that didn’t stop him from taking a 3 1/2-hour trek from Ruston, La., to Meridian to speak at Lamar’s inaugural baseball banquet Friday evening.

The former West Lauderdale High School and Meridian Community College baseball standout is entering his first season as head baseball coach at Louisiana Tech after spending three years in charge of Northwestern State’s program. When Lamar baseball coach Luke Walker contacted Burroughs about speaking, it was a chance to both help another baseball coach build his program and get back home to visit family and friends.

“It always feels good to come home,” Burroughs said. “I’m proud to be from Meridian and Lauderdale County and West Lauderdale, and anytime I get a chance to come home and not just speak but visit, it’s always great.”

Walker said he was able to develop a friendship with Burroughs over the years thanks to their mutual Collinsville background.

“I’ve kept in touch with him through my high school and college career, and when I went on into coaching college, I’ve stayed in touch with him, and we’ve been talking ever since,” Walker said.

Though there’s a bit of an age gap between the two, Burroughs said he respects Walker as a person and coach and recognizes what Walker is trying to build at Lamar.

“You know, I’m a lot older than him,” Burroughs said with a small grin, “but he did go to the same high school as me, and I coached against him when he was playing at Mississippi Valley and I was at Mississippi State. I’m more close in age to his parents, but I have known him for a while, and I know he’s a hard worker. He’ll try to do a great job here, and I’m excited to come and help him any way I can.”

As a college coach, Burroughs enjoys the opportunity to meet as many fans of the game and young players as possible, and function’s like Friday’s banquet allow him to promote both the game and the Louisiana Tech program.

“It’s all about the message,” Burroughs said. “I think you have a small time capsule in your life where you can go out and speak … and deliver your message — and get Louisiana Tech’s name out there, and I think that’s important.”

Having a college coach speak to players and parents is part of an effort to emphasize baseball at a school more known for its football program, Walker said.

“It means a lot, especially to promote our baseball program, because we really want our guys to think baseball here,” Walker said. “We’re trying to create excitement here for baseball also.”

Burroughs was hired by Louisiana Tech last June to replace former coach Greg Goff, who took the head baseball coaching position at Alabama. Since then, Burroughs said it’s been a smooth transition as he gears up for the season.

“It’s been great,” Burroughs said. “We have 15 seniors. In 20 years of college coaching, I’ve never had a team have that many seniors. They’re coming off a regional at a school with a long drought of not going to any regionals, so they got a little taste of it last year … and they’re hungry. Most jobs when it’s my first year, (you’re) rebuilding, so this is a different challenge in keeping them hungry.”

Like Burroughs with his team, Walker said he feels good about the Raiders’ upcoming season on the diamond.

Our guys really worked hard this year,” Walker said. “We have 6 o’clock weight lifting, and even then we have guys come just to hit. Our work ethic has been really good, and I’m excited with what we’ve got. Our whole infield is basically returning, and one of our outfielders is returning, and all of our pitchers are coming back, so we’re really excited.”